Footwear



H. C. WAGNER FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. 18, 1923 [N VENTOR Henry 0. Wayne Fatented Get. 23, 1928. l"

UNETE v essee HENRY o. WAGNER, or BEACON FALLS, oonnnorrcc'r, Assienon'ro THE Beacon I FALLS RUBBER SHOE COMPANY, or BEACON FALLS, oonnnorlcur, A consona- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOTWEAR.

Application filed February 18, 1328. Serial No.,255,242.

This invention relates in general to footwear such as gaiters or arctics and more par ticularly to fastening devices-therefor.

Heretofore in gaiters of the type having side flaps or bellows folds held in position by a strap across the instep, there has been objectionable gaping of the flaps away from the sides; Also riding of the strap over the top of the vamp has been unavoidable.

With the object of overcoming these disadvantages, this invention providesa single fastening strap having two adjustable, preferably ornamental, snap buckles,'oneof which is located adjacent the middle of the strap and is adapted to snap on to a stud attached to the center of the vamp adjacent the instep. By thus holding the strap at thispoint and fastening the two ends downwardly to the opposite quarters, there is obtained an up ward pull on the quarters which eliminates gaping at the sides. Furthermore, the center stud prevents the strap from riding over the top of the vamp and also maintains the r buckle in a symmetrical position which enhances the appearance of the shoe. The fastoning means for the ends of the strap in cludes the second buckle which is carried adjacent the free end of the strap and adapted to snap onto a stud on one of the quarters, the other end of the strap being preferably secured permanently to the other quarter.

In cases where it is desired to wear the gaiter with the flaps opened, the second buckle may be snapped on to the center stud. This holds the free end of the strap, and the centering of the buckle preserves the neatness of the gaiter.

Other features and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one example of my invention as applied to a gaiter. reference numeral 1 designates the foot of the gaiter which is generally composed of rubber or other waterproof material and having an upper including the usual quarters 2 and 3 and the vamp 4; which extends upward over the instep. In footwear of this character, the forward portions of the quarters 2 and 3 are usually folded back to form bellows folds or flaps 5 which are sewed or otherwise fastened to the inner edges of the vamp 4; so as to form what is known as a bellows tongue 6. Sometimes the back folds are dispensed with and the flaps are free of the vamp edges. Generally the top edge of the gaiter is provided w th a turned down cuff 10 which may be turned up for the purpose of obtaining ther protection forthe foot. Various kinds of fastening devices have been employed for the purpose of holding the flaps 5 1n folded position over the adiacent portions or the vamp t, but heretofore it has been found difiicult to prevent the iiaps from gaping away from the sides of the shoe. To overcome this fault, I attach to the center of the vamp 4, adjacentthe instep one element of a snap fastener, such as the stud 7, and

onto which there maybe snapped a suitably nated 11 and preferably of the same character;

as theother. A stud 12 is secured to the quarter 2 in the proper position beneath the cuff to obtain the desired directional pull of the strap '9 when the buckle 11 is snapped over the stud 12. It will be seen that" when the folds 5 have been closed by snapping the two buckles on to their respective studs, the strap 1;) cannot work out of place and the buckle 8 1s secured symmetrically over theshoe, therebypresenting. an. attractive appearances Furthermore, the strap 9 is prevented from riding over the top of the vamp 4:.

It will also be noted that the end buckle 11 snaps to.the side of the gaiter preferably beneath the cuff 10 so that normally only the center buckle is visible. In the event that the wearer desires to leave the folds 5 opened, the end buckle 11 may be snapped on to the center stud. This holds the free end of the strap and at the same time centers the ornamental buckle, thereby preserving the attractive appearance of the gaiter. There isthus produced in the single strap and its associated elements, a fastening de-. vice combining the vadvantages of both simcut is:

' to the other of the side flaps, said snap buck- 1. A fastening device for gaiters having side flaps and a. vamp, comprising, a strap having one end secured to one of the side flaps, two snap buckles adjustably secured to said strap, studs fixed respectively to the center of the vamp adjacent the top thereof and les being adapted respectively to be secured to said studs.

2. A fastening device for the side flaps of a. gaiter, comprising a single strap. attached at one end to one of the uarters, a snap i buckle adjustably carried ad acent the intermediate portion of said strap, a snap ele ment secured to the center of the vamp adjaoent the instep and adapted to center said buckle and hold the strap against slipping and a second snap buckle adjustably carried by the free end of said strap, said second buckle being attachable to a snap element secured to the other quarter.

3. A fastening device for the side flaps of a gaiter, comprising a single strap having one end fixed to one of the quarters, an ornamental adjustable snap buckle carried adjacent the intermediate portion of said strap, a snap stud fixed to the center of the vamp adjacent the top thereof for holding the buckle centered and to prevent the strap from riding over the top of the vamp, a second similar buckle adjacent the free end of the strap and astud fixed to the other quarter for receiving the second buckle, the latter being attachable to the center stud when the gaiter is Worn with the flaps open.

4. A fastening device for the side flaps of a gaiter comprising a single strap adapted to cross the instep, one end of the strap being fixed to one of the quarters, an ornamental snap buckle adjustably carried adjacent the intermediate portion of the strap, said buckle being receivable on asnap element effective to center the buckle at the instep and prevent the strap from riding over the vamp, and a second snap buckle adjacent the free end of the strap, said second buckle being receivable on a. snapelement fixed to the other qua-rtor and being also attachable to the center snap'element.

5. A fastening device for the side flaps of a gaiter having a turned down cult, comprising a. single strap secured to one of the quarters underneath the cult and carrying at its free end a snap buckle, a snap element on the other quarter underneath the out]? and adapted to receive and normally hide said snap buckle, a buckle intermediate the length of the strap, and a snap element centrally positioned adjacent the top of the vamp adapted to hold the intermediate buckle centered and prevent the strap from riding'over the top of the vamp, the end buckle being attachable to either of said snap elements.

6, A fastening device for a'gaitcr having a bellows tongue, comprising a single strap secured to one of the quarters and carrying adjacent its free end an adjustableorna-' mental snap buckle adapted to cooperate with a snap element on the opposite quarter to hold the bellows folds against the vamp, a similar buckle intermediate the ends of said strap, and a snap element adapted to'hold said intermediate buckle centered over the instep and prevent the strap from riding over the top of the vamp.

7. A gaiter having side flaps and a vamp and provided with a fastening device comprising, a strap secured at one end to one of the side quarters, ornamental means adjustably secured to the strapintermediate its ends and detachably securable to the center of the vamp adjacent its upper edge, and means at the free end of the strap and at the other quarter for detachably securing th free end of the strap.

Signed at Beacon Falls, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 15th day of February, 1928.

HENRY G. WAGNER. 

